Fans React To Belichick Punishment

BOSTON -- New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick is facing the largest fine in National Football League history, but for Patriots Nation, the team's leader may not have done anything that hasn't been done before in the NFL.

NewsCenter 5's Steve Lacy reported that although Belichick escaped suspension, the team has been hit with a penalty that will likely hurt it for years to come by losing future draft picks. Belichick, who has a $5 million contract, must also come up with the $500,000 fine money out of his own pocket.

Besides also having to pay a $250,000 team fine, if the Patriots make the playoffs this year, they will lose one of their first-round draft picks. They have two. If they fail to make the playoffs they will also lose their second and third-round picks.

It's the first time in NFL history a first-round draft pick has been confiscated as a penalty.

Belichick and the Patriots were punished by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell Thursday after NFL security guards caught a Patriots cameraman videotaping a New York Jets coach's hand signals during the team's season-opener on Sept. 9. It's against NFL rules for teams to tape an opponent during a game.

Both the NFL and Belichick stressed that the camera was seized before the end of the first quarter and had no impact on the game, which the Patriots won 38-14.

"This episode represents a calculated and deliberate attempt to avoid longstanding rules designed to encourage fair play and promote honest competition on the playing field," Goodell wrote.

In a prepared statement, Belichick took full responsibility for the situation, saying, "I accept full responsibility for the actions that led to tonight's ruling. Once again, I apologize to the (Patriots owners) Kraft family and every person directly or indirectly associated with the New England Patriots for the embarrassment, distraction and penalty my mistake caused. I also apologize to Patriots fans and would like to thank them for their support during the past few days and throughout my career."

Fans, however, were standing by their man, a coach who has led the Patriots to three Super Bowl championships in the last seven years.

"Everybody does it. He just got caught," one female fan said Thursday.

"I think the punishment's rough. And I think the worst thing that Bill did was, he got caught," a male fan said.

Belichick is expected to address the media at a regularly-scheduled news conference at 10:45 a.m. Friday. NewsCenter 5 and the Boston Channel.com will carry it live.